Method and apparatus for pushing pipe



Jan. 16, 1923.

A. C. LUDLUM ET AL. METHOD'AND'APPARATUS FOR PUSHING PIPE.

3 SHEETS-SHEET l.

FILED )UNE I, |918.

vegaa www Jan. 16, 1923.

A. C. LUDLUM ET AL.

METHOD AND APPARATUS PDD PUSHING PIPE,

3 SHEETS SHEET 2.'

s SHEETS-SHEET 3.

A. C. LUDLUM ET AL. METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR PUSHING PIPE. FILED JUNE 1| 1918 Jan. 16, 1923.-

Patented Jan. 16, 1923.

UNITED STATES ALBERT o. LUnLUir, 0E NEW YORK, N. Y., AND ARTHUR LowY, or

JERSEY, AssiGNoRs 'ro NEW YoRK ENGINEERING COMPANY, A

or NEW YoRx. A*

T 0 all whom# may concern:

Be it known that we, ALBERT C. LUDLUM and ARTHUR LowY, citizens of the United States, and residents of New York city, in the county of New York and State of 1New York, and Newark, in the county of Essex and State of New Jersey, respectively, have invented certain new and use- `t'ul Improvements in Methods and Apparatus for Pushing Pipe, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to method and apparatus for pushing pipe and has for its object to enable rods or pipes to be forced through earth without thenecessity of making excavations.

In carrying out the invention, we employ a method and apparatus whereby" a pi'edetermined deflection of the pipe from a.

straight line causesan indication to be made to the operator who can then '.control the further movement of the pipe and cause it 'to resume the proper direction. Inasmuch as the character of soil varies from place to place, it is desirable to provide a variable power, so that the pipe can be trapidly pushed in soft or loose earth with less power, as compared with hard or dense earth, gravel, hard pan or the like where the power must be increased with diminution of the rate of movement. Between pushing strokes of the jack, the pipe is automatically gripped in order to prevent back spring and loss of available stroke caused by compression of the pipe and the backing against which the pushing pressure is exerted, and to utilize the compression of the pipe to push obstructions out of the way during the.

selective wash boring. The machine is also capable of withdrawing the pipewhere desired, being so constructed that in pushing, the pipe sections are added fromthe rear, and in withdrawing, the pipe sections are detached as withdrawn.

The apparatus consists of a reciprocating hydraulic plunger carrying jaws for gripping the pipe in pushing, together with dogs which grip the pipe and prevent back spring during the return stroke. The jack cylinder is supplied 'by a special forni of variable output'pump which canb,e either manually or power operated. The'pipe is preferably provided withinternal square threads, the

pipe being upset internally where threaded,

y 1,442,164 PATENT oEFICE.

NEWARK, NEW

coRroRA'rIoN l KETHOD AND APPARATUS FOIt PUSHING PIPE.

Application `iled June 1, 1918. Serial No. 237,715.

' and at the forward. end isprovded with a controlling head which carries the deflection indicating and correcting mechanism. This comprises one or more electrical contacts which remain open as long as the pipe runs true, deflection causing a contact to be made and a buzzer or other signal made to the operator. The head has washing nozzles and a controlling valve having positions automatically limited by magnets in circuits with the electrical contacts. These nozzles are disposed peripherally of the head and` can be supplied with high pressure water from the pump in order to wash away a boulder or other obstruction, one

or more or' the nozzles being selectively opened .according to the position of the valve, the valve being actuated by the operator whenever he gets a buzzer -signal indieating a.' deflection. Each magnet controls a latch', whichV limits the throw of the valve,

.so that upon receiving the signal the operator simply has to throw the valve as far as lit'will go and turn on the high pressure' water, in order to wash on the side where the`boulder or other obstruction'wh'ich has deflected the `pipe is located. As soon as the signal stops, the operator knowsthat deflection has been` corrected, and can then proceed with the pushing. The operator can also wash straight ahead or selectively in any lateral direction in order to facilitate the progress of the pipe. The appa; ratus is so constructed that, if desired, the pipe together with the controlling head can be withdrawn, leaving' Aonly the extreme nozzle head in the ground.4 v

The invention will be more fully understood in connect-ion with' the description of the accompanying drawings, wherein,

Figure l is aV gether with the backing, Figure 2 isa side elevation,

,Figure 3 is an end elevation crosshead,

Figui-es 4 and 5, together show la longishowing the plan view of the jack, to

tudinal section of the forward end ofithe pipe, together with the washing head and` Figure 7 is a section on the line.7, 7 fof Figure 4:,

Figure 8 is an elevation of the pump,

Figure 9 is a section on the line 9, 9 of Figure, 8,

Figure 10 is a section on the line 10,10 of 'Figure 8, and

Figure 11 is a wiring diagram. i

,f1 represents an annular horizontal jack cylinder, having supportingwheels 2, 2. 3 is a tank containing the pump and operated ,by hand lever 4. 5 is a to and from pipe connected -atone fend to the pump, discharge 6 and at the other end to the cylinder space 7 behind the annular piston 8. The annular piston 8 carries a tubular eX- tension 9 Awith a pushing ring 10 which abuts the rear side of the crosshead 11 sliding on guides 12. The crosshead 11 is p-rovided with jaws 13 dove-tailed thereto on an angle as shown, the inner surfaces of the jaws being provided withy forwardly.

projecting teeth 14 which engage the pipe. For engaging the jaws with the pipe when the crosshe'ad is to be advanced on the pushing stroke, the jaws are simultaneously dig into the pipe when it tends to springbackward. The opposite end of the cylinder 1 is provided with a base plate 22 which l engages the backing 23. For horizontal vrwork, a pit is ordinarily dug toreceive the machine and the backing, and the pipe 'started horizontally at the required depth, 40 or in such other' direction as is desired. The pressure is so enormous, in the case of a 3- inch pipe for instance running up to sixty to seventy-five tons, that a very rigid backing`.must be provided, and upon the return stroke ofthe piston when the pressure has been relieved, the backing and the entire machine tend to spring forward, eX- cept as preventedby engagement of the dogs 18/with the pipe. This prevents loss of possibly two inches of the effective pushing stroke which would otherwise be` .required l L.to again compress the backing up to the working pressure. The maintenance of thev pipe in compression by the engagement of the dogs 18 with the pipe has the further effect of utilizing the enormous stresses in the pipeto push away obstructions. duringtheselective wash boring without loss of stroke. The under sides of the guides 12 are'provided with racks 25 which' are engaged by pinions 26 operated by handY wheels 27. for reversing the crosshead and bringing the piston back to its initial position for another working stroke.

6 5 1n soft homogeneous soils, or for` com-.-l

para-tively short distances, where accuracy of direction is not essential, an ordinary open ended pipe can be pushedby this apparatus, as the end will only plug up with dirt for a comparatively short distance, and

the dirt can be washed out by water pressure when the pipe has been pushed the required distance, This method will suflice for pushing pipes from underground workings upward to the surface or horizontally between different workings. Whe-re the pipe is to be pushed a long distance under the surface with considerable accuracy, it.

is desirable to provide a special form of head constructed to indicate to the operator at the jack when a deflection coeurs, and to v enable the operator to take, steps to overcome the cause of the deflection. We have found that a waterjet under high pressure and properly directed through the head of the pipe will wash around boulders sufciently to enable them to be pushed to one side by the pipe, or will Wash through a hard strata and enable the pipe to contmue its straight line of travel. Inasmuchl 'as the operator at the jack is unable to see or determinethe precise character of the obstruction which deflects the pipe, means is provided whereby upon receiving an indication of deflection, as by a buzzer, the operator moves the valve as far as it will go, the travel of 'the valve being controlled by magnets which each limit the valve to a certain open position, and each of these valve positions causing a jet of water to be discharged in a different direction. The head carries a tail tube having contacts closing one or the other -of these magnet circuits according to the direction of deflection, so that all that the operator has to do upon getting a signal is to open the valve and turn on the water which will wash out a chamber around the obstruction until the pipe head springs backto its normal position and opens the signal circuit. The operator then proceeds with the pushing untilanother signal is received. Also, where it is desired to wash in front of the head to reduce the power required, the operator can apply a jet for this purpose without affect! ing the direction.

30 is the head, which is rovided with la plurality of directional nozz es, 31, 32, 33,34, 35, 36, preferably located slightly behind the end of the head and directed diagonally forward as shown. by longitudinal passages as 37, 38 ,through a ylining 39 to a central'valve chamber 40 within the lining 39 and containing a sliding hollow valve 41 passing through a stuffing bo`x 42. The valve 41 has seven positions, the first-being that shown in the drawing where it is in extreme forward position, at which time'the nozzles 31-36 are closed, and a valve 42 carried by\.the forward end of-valve These nozzles are connected 41 is held open by the end of the stem of valve 42 striking the central portion of the head 30. With this' valve 42 open, pressure water can be supplied through valve 41, valve 42, to a central nozzle or nozzles 43 in the head 30, to permit washing or softening of the earth in front of then head as it is pushed. As shown, these nozzles 43 are directed radially and are shielded from the direct entrance'of dirt by the short head 44. However, it has been found that nozzles cannot clog as there is always suiicient water pressure available to blow out any possible obstruction. Just in the rear of the valve 42, the valve 41 is provided with a set of radial ports 45 which successively connect with the nozzles 31-36 as the valve 41 is moved rearwardly, .it being seen that only one of these .nozzles is open at a time. In Figure 4, the

successive valve positions are indicated by the dotted circles 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, these circles representing the angularly located ports in the sleeve 39, but the ports 50 and 51 controlling the nozzles 32, 33 are not actually visible in the'. longitudinal section.

The valve 41 is actuated by means of the water supply pipe 5G which runs rearwardly through the push pipe and through the jack, and is there' connected to either the jack pump or to another source of supply.) The valve 41 carries an external key-way 57 which engages with a key 58 carried by block 59 in the supporting tube 60. This supporting tube 6()- is threaded on to the rear boss 61 of the head 30 by a left-hand thread 62, while the couplings of pipe 56 are with righthand threads, thus permitting the tube 60 to be unscrewed from the head 30 by turning pipe 56 through key-way 57 and key 58 to permit withdrawal of`valve 41, tube 6() and all of the connected parts. The forward section'64 of the push pipe is forced on to head 3() in permanent engagement, but the remaining sections of pipe 24 are preferably provided with special compression resisting square threads cut on integral upset ends of the pipe, although heavy internal couplings can be used if desired. On account of the enormous pressures to which pipes are subjected in this, work, we have found that ordinary wrought iron pipe with ordinary external or internal couplings i unsuited to resist theheavy strains, whereas a special cold drawn seamless 3 3; inch pipe weighing twelve to fourteen pounds per foot with integralupset ends has successfully withstoodh over seventy-five tons pressure.

To determine the position ofthe valve 41, it` is provided with two lugs 66, 67, diametri` cally opposite to each-other. For each lug is provided three magnetically operated latches 68, 69, 70, 71, 72, 73, thus giving six valve positions. The latches 68-7 3 are normally held out Aof operation, but each .is

contzrolled by a corresponding magnet as 74, 5.

Figures 4 and 5 show the tube 6() separated from the tube 64, andc-arried by the rear end of tube 60 in block 59 is a tail tube 76, which extends back a sufficient distance so that a slight deflection' ofthe head 3() will throw the rear end of the tail tube 76 to-v -to the valwe 41 and pipe 56 and at the other side to one of the contacts 78, 79, etc., there being a-contactnfor each magnet. When contact 78, strikes the inside of pipe 24, as will happen upon sufiicient deiection of the head,

the corresponding magnet is energized 'and draws down its latch in contact with the stem of valve 41 and at the same time makes a buzzer signal at the jack. The operator then pulls the pipe 56 and valve 41 rearward until the valve stops, which stopping is caused 'by the latch whose magnet was energized engaging one or the other of lugs 66 or 67. The operator then knows that the proper side nozzle has been opened inthe head on the opposite side and turns the pressure water through the pipe 56 to wash away the obstruction, which is indicated by vfailure of the signal caused by the tail tube resuming its central position and opening the magnet circuit. The operator can then proceed with the pushing, or if he desires to wash in front of the head 30, will push the valve 41 back to its'forward positionto open valve 42. It will be seen that as 'soon as :the valve 41 is moved backward, the valve 42 closes so that the pressure water is all directedthrough the Aproper side nozzle.l If the operator at any time desires to wash lin front, he simply `pushes'the valve 41 forward, butl knows that upon again pulling the valve 41 backward it I i will stop when'the proper side nozzle is open.

llVhen the magnet circuit is' open, the springs 80 hold the latches all out of operation, s0 that the operator can 'at any time wash alternately both in front of' and all around the head 30. The peripheral nozzles 31 t0f36 around the head operate successively as valve 41 is actuated to wash all yaround the plpe.- Y

.The form of head shown herein is of par# ticularv'advantage in this kind of work as compared with a rounded or conical form of head. The latterA has al camming action whichptends toincreasethedeflection f the head, especially where-a'hard inclined formation v'enc'ountered,"while `the sharp cor-V I dii-i" I l nered angular'head herein shown has less tendency to deflection, and requires little or no more power. VWe have found that an open ended pipe works better than a rounded end pipe since the earth very quickly forms its own plug in the pipe and it thereafter acts like the blunt ended pipe.

Hydraulic power is practically the only power available for an apparatus of this character, andwe havefound that on account of the wide. variations in the character of resistance encountered equally wide variations' must be provided for at the pump. In hard ground, the pressure will run up very high but the travel will be very slow, while in soft ground the pressure need not be so high and the travel may be' faster.

lVe have devised a variable output pump which can be operated either manually or by power and providing the necessary flexibility required to secure the maximum distance in a given time.

The pump details are shown in Figures 8, 9 and 10, the pump being suitably mounted on a base and contained within'the tank 3, which is filled through pipe 85, 86 being a screen. The pump consistsl of a casting 87 having cylinders 88, 89, 90, 91, preferably of different diameters, but having their pistons connected in pairs to crossheads 92, 93, carrying racks and engaged by a pinion 94 on vrockshaft 95 and operated by the lyoked hand lever 4. The suction valves 97,

98, 99, 100. are provided with elongated stems which project belo'w the bottoms of the intake passages for each cylinder into the tank and below the water level. OIn or- -der to throw any cylinder or cylinders out on stud 104, and is connected by rods 106 to a reciprocating and rotary handle 107 carrying an arm 108 engaging with a notched segment 109 on the top of 'the tank. A spring 110 normally holds the handle elevated and thevarm 108 in engagement with one or the other of segments 109. The disk 103 is provided with slots 111 of varying lengths, so that when the disk 103 is rotated various combinations of the four valve stems will be held effective by dropping f through the slots 111 according to the angular position ofthe disk 103. With four cylindersfof different diameters, sixteen different cylinder combinations can be obtained,

varying from the maximum pump output with all inlet4 valves closed to the minimum pump output when all of the valves except that of the smallest cylinder 88 are held open by the solid portions of the disk 103. We have found that-eight different combi- 'it is desired to operate the pump by an enginethe engine is provided with a reduction gear dr1ving a crank, and the crank is connected to a pitman 112 which is adjustably connected to the lever 4 by a clamp 113. The pump cylinders all discharge ythrough the usual vdischarge valves into a ycommon discharge 6 which is itself connected to and from pipev5.

Figure 11 showsy a form of wiring diagram, in which the pipe 56 is connected through brush 116 and Wire 117 to the several magnets 74, 75, etc., these magnets being each connected to the several contacts 78, 79, etc., which complete the circuit by contacting with pipe` 24 thence to battery 118, the other side 'of the battery being connected to a buzzer,or light 119 and thence by wire 120 to the pipe 56. The pipe 56 is 'ordinarily of 31,-. pipe in five foot sections,

with external couplings, and wedged on each coupling, or at intermediate points, are wooden or other insulating round balls 121, which slidingly support the pipe topprevent sagging 4and grounding-of the indicating circuit through pipe 56.

When it is desired to withdraw the pipe, the machine can be turned around and operated in the samev way to push the pipe in the other direction, the sections being disconnected as they come out. If desired, a

double acting jack 'hylinder could be em- 1 ployed for actuating and returning the crosshead instead of the. rack and pinion mechanism shown, or for pulling .the pipe. It will be under-stood that the method herein disclosed can be carried out with other apparatus than that herein illustrated,

andv also that various `4modifications and" `-an obstruction, an indication varying with the -direct-ion of`deflection, and wash boring y to remove said obstruction and indication.

2. The method which consists in pushing a pipe through earth, indicating deflection of the pipe, and wash-boring to correct the deflection.

3. The method which consists in pushing a pipe through earth, indicating deflection of termined by the direction of deflection to correct the deflection.

4. Themethod of driving pipe through earth, in a straight line, which consists in intermittently pushing the. pipe from the rear, preventing the pipe from springing back between the strokes.. and washing through the forward end of the pipe to remove deflect-ing obstructions.

5. In combination, ajack having vmeans for engaging and pushino' a pipe, a head carried by the forward end of the pipehaving means for indicating deflection ofthe head, and .means operable through the'pip'e for removing the cause'of deflection. I

(5. In combination, a jack having means for engaging and pushing a. pipe, a variable output hydraulic .pump for actuating the jack, a head carried by the forward end of the pipe having means for indicating deflection of the head, and means operable through the pipe for removing'the cause of deflection. Y

T. In combination, a jack having means for-engaging and pushing a pipe, a headcarried by the forward end of the pipe having means for indicating deflection of the head, and hydraulic means operable through the pipe for removing the cause of deflection. f

8.,In combination, a jack having means for. engaging and pushing ,a pipe, la head carried by the forward end of the pipe having means for electrically indicating delection of the head, and means operable through the pipe for removing the cause of deflection.

9. In combination, a jack having means for engaging and pushin a pipe, a head carried by the forward en of thevpipe having laterally directed nozzles, a valve within the head for selectively controlling the nozzles, and means extending through the pipe for actuating the valve.

10. In combination, a jack having meansfor engaging and pushing a pipe, a head carriedby the forward end of the pipe having laterally directed` nozzels, a valve within the head for selectively controlling the nozzles, and a shiftable supply pipe extending through the push pipe and connected to the valve for actuating it and supplying water *o said nozzles.

11. In combination, a jaelrl having means for engaging and pushing a pipe, a head carried by the pipe havingnieans responsive to deflection, and means operable through the pipe for removing the cause of deflection. A -4 12. In combination with a pipe and pushing means, a head for the forward end of the pipe having a wash boring nozzle in its end, and peripheral nozzles adjacent theV end.

4carried-by said tailtube.

13. In combination with a pipe and pushing means, a head for the forward end of the pipe' having a wash boring nozzle therein, and a valve therefor controllable through the pipe. e Y

14. In combination with a pipe and push'- ing means, a head for jthe forward end of the pipe having a wash boring nozzle in the end and peripheral wash boring nozzles adjacent tlie end, and means for separately controlling said nozzles.

15. In combination with a pipe and pushing means, a. blunt ended head for the forward endof the pipe having peripheral nozzles adjacent the end, andan interior valve for selectively controlling said nozzles.

` 16. The combination with a push pipe, of ahead having a nozzle, and a valve within thev head whereby said nozzle is controlled. 17. 'The combination with a push pipe, of a head having a peripheral nozzle, and a valve Within the head whereby said nozzle 'and selectively controlling said nozzles according to its position, and means for latching said valve in its open controlling positions.A

21. In pipe pushing apparatus, a head having end and peripheral nozzles, a main valve movable within the head controlling Said peripheral nozzles, and an auxiliary valve in-said valve for opening said end Anozzle when said main valve is in a certain position.

22. In pipe pushing apparatus having wash boring nozzles, a slide valve movable to selectively control 4said nozzles, a plurality of displaced lugs on the valve stein,

and .a plura1ity`^of` magnetically controlled latches cooperating with said lugs.

23. In pipe pushing. apparatus, a head for closing the end of the pipe, a tail tubey carried thereby and extending rearwardly thereof, and deflection indicating means controlled'- by said tail tube. l

24:. Inpipe pushing apparatus, a head for closing the end of the pipe., a tail tube carried thereby and 'extending rearwardly thereof, and deflection vindicating means 25.' In .pipepushing apparatus, a head for closing the entlvof thepipe, a tail tube carried thereby and-extending rearwardlyrl'- and means for disconnecting said means.

from the head to permit withdrawal through the pipe.

28. In pipe pushing lapparatus, a head, wash boring controlling means carried thereby, and means for disconnecting said means from the head whereby to permit \\'ithdra\val through the pipe.

29. In pipe pushing apparatus, a head, a wash boring controlling valve carried thereby, and means for disconnecting said valve fronr the head whereby to permit Withdrawal through the pipe.

30. In pipe pushing apparatus, a` head, deflection detecting and wash boring controlling means. carried thereby, and means for disconnectingsaid .detecting and controlling means from the head whereby` to )permit withdrawal -through the pipe.

3l. In pipe pushing apparatus .havi g wash boring nozzles, a slide valve movable o heavy compression.

selec-tively control said nozzles, a plurality of .displaced lugs on the valve stem, a plurality of magnetically controlled .latches cooperat- 'ing with said lugs, and means responsive to deflection of the pipe for controlling one .orV

the other of said latches according to the direction of deflection to correspondingly coutrol the direction of wash boring.

32. In a pipe pushing apparatus, ahead carrying Wash boring nozzles, and a sectional pipe connected thereto and having square threaded internal joints to resist 33. In pipe pushing apparatus, a head having a Wash boring nozzle, a pushing pipe, a water supply pipe within said pushing pipe', and spaced supports carried by said Water supply pipe and bearing on said push pipe.

34. In pipe pushing apparatus, a head having/a wash boring no zzle, a pushing pipe, a valve in the head controlling said nozzle, a ,water supply pipe within said pushing pipe and connected. to actuate and supply said valve, and spaced' supports carried by said water supply pipe and sliding 36. A device for indicating the deflection of' a tube, comprlsmg an. electrical circuit,

means, and said insulated actuating means.y

a contact, an elongated support att-ached at y one end to the tube and carrying said contact on its free end, means for completing the circuit through said contact as the tube defiects, and current actuated meansv for indicating such deflection.

37. A device for indicating the deflection of a tube, comprising an electrical circuit, a plurality of annularly disposed contacts, an elongated support within the tube and attached at one end thereto and carrying said contacts on its free end, said contacts normally being disposed centrally of the tube, and means for completing the circuit throughpne of said contacts as the-latter. are moved out of central position relative to the tube wall by the deflection of the tube, the particular contactfin each instance being determined bythe direction of the deflection, and current actuatedmeans for indicating through which contact the circuit is complete .i y

Signed at New York city in the county. of New York and State of New York, this 27th day of May, A. D. 1918.

ALBnRa? c. LUDLUM;

A ARTHUR LOW Y.

Witnesses:

Guo. SUMMER, ANNA CAREYIDIus. 

